In the gym at Monster Academy, the skeleton Boneyard Brass Band played on and on.
The sounds drifted faintly toward the science lab.
"I bet Winnie is dancing right now," Ben muttered to Waldo.
"I bet she stopped looking for me, and now she's having fun with some other monster."
He sighed. "I just hope it's not one of the football players.
Or that troll who wears ties to school all the time."
"I'll tell you what I want to know."
Waldo stood up and went to look at his experiment again.
"I want to know who tried to ruin my talk potion."
"It was probably the same monster who locked us in here," Ben replied.
"That same idiot who—"
Just then the door flew open.
"Mr. Creepy!" Waldo burst out.
"It's Friday night! What are you doing here?"
The teacher stared at the two boys in surprise.
"I'm a chaperone at the dance. What are you two doing here?"
"Somebody locked us in," Waldo explained quickly.
"Oh, and by the way, someone also tried to ruin my talk potion."
"What?" said Mr. Creepy. He strode to the back of the lab.
"Who would do that?"
Ben didn't wait to hear Waldo's answer.
"Thanks, Mr. Creepy!" he shouted. "See you later!"
He raced down the hall toward the gym.
Inside the big room, the lights were dim. Ben peered around for Winnie.
"I hope she didn't leave," he thought.
"Waldo!" cried Gaby as Waldo rushed into the gym behind Ben.
"Where were you two? I was so worried."
"Sorry," said Waldo. "Somebody trapped us inside the lab."
"That's awful!" said Gaby. "I wonder who . . ."
Just then the band started playing a new song, and her eyes lit up.
"Come on!" she said, grabbing Waldo's hand. "You're here now. Let's dance."
Gaby and Waldo hurried off.
Ben scanned the dance floor for Winnie, but he still didn't see her anywhere.
"Whoa!" cried a voice.
Ben spun around just in time to see a human kid slip and fall.
Jen, the blob, helped him up.
"Sorry, Dave," said Jen. "My slime trail can be pretty slippery."
"That's okay, Jen," said Dave with a grin.
"I'll just watch where I step!"
As Jen and Dave danced, Ben looked around for Winnie again.
He saw Mr. Freaky dancing with a large, red-haired woman.
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, Mrs. Hubbletree."
Mr. Freaky sounded slightly out of breath.
"I'm having a great time!" replied Mrs. Hubbletree.
"Thanks again for inviting Mr. Hubbletree and me.
Unfortunately, my husband doesn't like dancing."
Ben floated past the principal and Mrs. Hubbletree.
And then, at last, he found Winnie.
Her dark hair was long and loose, and she was wearing a beautiful black dress.
"She's dancing with Zork!" Ben realized with a pang.
His heart sank as the scaly green monster whispered something in Winnie's ear, and she burst out laughing.
When the song ended, Winnie said something to Zork, who then hurried off.
Ben shot over to her. "Winnie! You'll never believe . . ."
His words trailed off when he saw the look on her face.
"Where were you?" she asked in a low tone. "I looked everywhere."
"I'm so sorry." Ben tried to explain again.
"I got here early, while you were getting changed for the dance.
And then Waldo wanted to show me his new experiment."
His chuckle sounded too loud, even to his own ears.
"This is unbelievable, but we got locked inside the science lab."
"What?"
He grinned at her. "Crazy, right?"
Winnie stared at him without smiling back. "You're a ghost, Ben.
If you were locked inside the lab, why didn't you just float out through the walls?"
Ben winced. "I . . . um . . ."
"I thought you wanted to go to the dance with me," Winnie said. She wasn't looking at Ben.
"I thought you actually liked me."
"I did," said Ben. "I mean, I do!
But then we got trapped in the lab, and . . ." Ben suddenly had an idea.
"Read my thoughts, Winnie. You'll see that I'm telling the truth!"
She shook her head. "I told you before, Ben.
I can read minds only sometimes.
Other times, especially when I'm upset, I can't read them at all.
So I have no idea what you're thinking right now."
Ben sighed. "I'm really sorry. I wish you'd believe me.
Can I get you anything?"
"Thank you," she replied. "But Zork is bringing me some iced sludge."
Ben looked at her pleadingly.
"I'm supposed to be your date tonight, Winnie.
Can't we just, I don't know, start over or something?"
Just then Zork appeared with two cups of iced sludge.
"Hey, Ben," said Zork.
"Great dance, huh?" He handed one of the cups to Winnie.
"Oh yeah," said Ben, forcing a laugh. "I'm having a blast."